Combined sparking plug and spakk intensifier for internal-combttstioh



C. L. THAYER, I COMBINED SPARKING PLUG AND SPARK INTENSIFIER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27, I920- Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES. L. THAYER, OF PLAINVILLE, KANSAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

Application filed October 27, 1920. Serial No. 419,948.

To all cc]: cm it may concern Be it known that I, Crmnnns L. TI-iAYER,

a citizen oi the United States, residing at Plainville, in the county of Books and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Sparking Plugs and Spark Intensifiers for Internal- Combustion Engines, oi? which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to combined sparking plugs and spark intensifiers for internal combustion engines,

An importantobject of the invention is to provide a device of this character comprising a porcelain body portion having dis posed therethrough a main electrode, the ends of which project beyond the ends of the porcelain body portion, the porcelain body portion having mounted upon the endsthereof ground members which are space' insulated from one another and which may be interchangeably employed for engaging in the spark plug opening of the cylinder of the engine, each of the ground members being provided with means for attaching thereto a lead wire connected with a suitable source of electrical supply, the lead wire in operation being connected with the ground member which is remote from that ei'igaged in the spark plug opening of? the cylinder A further object of the invention is to provide in a device of the character above described means whereby the lead wire may be connected with the ground members by means of a clip readily engageable from the members in order that the interchanging of the ends of the device may be accomplished with the least possible loss of time.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means normally forming a por tion of the device for reinforcing the re silient body member which must of necessity be made of some length and accordingly susceptible to breakage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent throughout the course of the following description:

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a longitudinally sectional View taken through a combined spark plug and intensifier constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Figure l, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the construction of the attaching plate.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a body portion formed of porcelain which embodies a central, enlarged portion 11 which is materially reduced at its ends, as at 12, Be yond the reduced portions 12 the porcelain 10 is enlarged, as at 13, and beyond these enlarged portions 13 is provided with further reduced portions 14L.

A main e ectrode 15 is provided which is embedded within the porcelain l0 and has its'end portions 16 reduced adjacent the upper endsot the enlarged portions 13 and such reduced portions extending through the ends of the reduced portions 14 and be ing exposed. The heavy portion of the main electrode stiffens the body of the per-- celain 10 and resists breakage thercot.

The enlargements 13 combine with the reductions 12 and 14 to form on the ends of the enlargements 13 shoulders 17 and 18 adapted to have positioned thcreagainst gaskets l9 and 20 of any suitable construction. Cylinder engaging members 22 of conducting material are provided having a central bore 22 adapted to receive therein the reduced portions 145. The bores 22 of the members 22 are enlarged at their inner ends, thereby forming shoulders 24 which abut the gaskets 19. The exteriors of the extreme end portion of the members 22 are externally screw threaded for coaction with the usual screw threaded bore formed in the internal combustion engine cylinder for the reception of the spark plug, and inwardly of the screw threaded portions the members 22 are enlarged and provided in such enlarged portions with grooves 25, the purpose of which will presently appear. Inwardly of the grooves 25 the exteriors of the members 22 are provided with squared portions 26 by means of which the device may be applied to the engine cylinders. The inner ends of the members 22, as at 27. are spun inwardly into the reduced portions 12 and engage against the gaskets 20 completing the end of the main electrode 15.

i the member being externally screw threaded,

as at 31, for the reception of a nut 32 by means of which the lead Wire 33 may be securely fastened in position.

In the operation of my device the threaded -)ortion of one of the members 22 is en a ed in the threaded opening formed in the cylinder of the engine and the other of the members 22 is electrically connected with a suitable source of electrical supply. The memhere 22 are each. provided as at with what may be described as. a ground terminal which terminates adjacent to but spaced from the exposed cmiresponding end N3 of the main electrode 1.5. i current upon completion of the circuit in the usual man ner will pass through the member 22, the contact thereof, jump the gap to the exposed end of the electrode 23 and cause a second spark at the gap between the electrode 23 and the lower or cylinder-entering It will be seen that a spark is formed not only within the cylinder but that an intensifier gap is provided exteriorly of the cylinder and at such point where the spark jumping the gap will be readily visible. When it is desired to interchange the ends of the plug for any purpose, the disconnection of the terminals may be readily accomplished by a slight pull, and the reconnection thereof at the opposite end of the device may be made with a minimum loss of time due to the peculiar construction.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that the use oi? but a single lead wire connection is necessaryin the construction of my and attention is further directed to the fact device, and that this lead Wire may be read- 11y detache i and interchanged when desired;

that the construction of my.device is eX- V set i'orth may be somewhat varied without in any manner departing from the spirit or scope of my invention, as for example, variations in the means oi? attaching and gasketing members 22 to the porcelain 10. I, ac-

cordingly, do not limit myself to the specific construction hereinbeitore set forth except as so limited by the sub-joined claim.

hat I claim is:

ft combined spark plug and spark intensifier comprising an insulatory body portion embodying a central enlargement and reduced ends, an electrode extending longitudinally of said body portion and having its ends projecting through the ends thereof, spark plug opening engaging members secured to the reduced ends of said body portion and each embodying a contact extending adjacent the adjacent end of the electrode, said electrode being provided centrally with a relatively thickened portion reinforcing the relatively thickened. portion of the insulatory body portion and extending into the reduced ends thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

CHARLES L. THAYER. 

